Bolesworth forced to cancel classes after freak rainstorm

Heavy rain at Bolesworth International has forced some of the showjumping action today (Thursday, 16 June) to be cancelled.

Following a freak rainstorm on Wednesday night at the Cheshire venue, the show’s organisers decided not to run classes being held in the Lake arena — which is on a grass surface.

Dry spells this morning meant conditions were good in the two all-weather arenas, the International and Castle arenas, and the schedule went ahead as planned.

“We are confident that by preserving the ground in the Lake arena it will enable us to run all competition as planned from Friday onwards,” the organisers posted on the show’s website.

“Full refunds will be given for all the cancelled classes in the Lake arena, but these will not be processed until next week.

“National competitors that have not yet arrived that are due to stable at the show, please wait for an update before leaving home. We will post an update by 7am tomorrow morning.”

Today’s action sees six London 2012 gold medallists competing including Scott Brash, Nick Skelton and Ben Maher in the four-star jumping. Dressage also takes centre stage in the International arena later on, with Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester and Laura Tomlinson all riding.

The morning saw National Hunt jockeys team up with showjumpers for the Jockey Challenge. It was won impressively by jockey Nick Scholfield and showjumper Matt Sampson.

Watch the Bolesworth live stream

Eventer Nick Gauntlett enjoyed a double of wins yesterday (15 June). He won the four-year-old Burghley Young Event Horse qualifier with the home-bred stallion Party Trick, who is sired by the 2015 Badminton winner Chilli Morning.

The rider went on to win Wednesday’s Express Eventing Challenge — which combines showjumping and cross-country in the main arena — aboard Cairnside Sir Alex. They fended off Leicestershire’s Imogen Murray and Donatello who settled for second place.

Updated 11.20am Friday, 17 June

Following further rain last night, more flooding at Bolesworth has resulted in the closure of the public car parks. To give the ground time to recover, the public won’t be allowed in until 5pm today (17 June), but jumping continues as scheduled in both the International and Castle arenas.

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